dutch practice seARCH has created ‘synagogue LJG’, a synagogue for the progressive jewish congregation in amsterdam.
riddled with symbolism of the jewish faith, the neutral rectilinear volume generates a simplistic outwards aesthetic which
conceals the building’s complex narrative and inverted sense of spatiality. drawing from both traditional and modern concepts,
the building seeks to create an environment that abstractly emulates the ideals and beliefs at the center of judaism.

nintendo‘s ‘wii u’ console was just announced at E3 2011, alongside a multi-input game controller for the device
that doubles as its own screen for both gaming and navigation of websites or other media.

the new tablet-sized controller features a 6.2-inch touch screen, framed by traditional button controls (A/B/X/Y buttons,
L/R buttons, ZL/ZR buttons, and two analog circle pads, alongside power, home, start, and select). a built-in gyroscope
and accelerometer permit the gesture-based interaction that defines the game system, while a rumble feature and stereo
speakers provide feedback. the controller also features a camera and microphone.

at 1.8 inches thick, 6.8 inches wide, and 10.5 inches long, the ‘wii u’ console is backwards compatible with all wii accessories
and games, loading 12-centimeter high-density and wii optical discs. up to four wii remote controllers can interface with the device,
which supports HDMI audio and video output, up through 1080p.

together the new products offer new ways of interacting with wii games. the system is designed to switch seamlessly
between viewing on a an external screen and on the controller itself, and in fact a monitor is no longer necessary
for wii devices to interact with one another. in addition, in a golf game, for example, the ‘wii u’ controller can be played
on the floor to simulate the virtual golf ball and the ‘roughness’ of the grass or sand surface, while a wiimote is used as a club.

apanese designer kaori aoi creates home products under the moniker innocent blue. driven by modernist optimism,
her designs feature novel ways of integrating more light into the home. an oversized ring-turned-lamp,
‘ring light’, for instance, subverts expectations of scale as well as a diamond’s natural light source.

israeli designer idan friedman of reddish studio has created a series of portraits embossed into disposable aluminium food trays.
the collection depicts people who are part of friedman’s everyday life, ranging from close friends to passers-by.
the combination of image and material reference historic medallions, and perhaps allude to our present day
lack of appreciation for traditional art forms.
you may see more profiles on friedman’s flickr